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Friday, July 14, 2017

Paul in Ephesus

Paul in Ephesus 2He met with the followers of Jesus in Ephesus and asked them. ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’Paul in Ephesus 3‘No,’ they replied, ‘we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ They had only heard and experienced John the Baptist’s baptism of repentance. Paul in Ephesus 4Paul explained that John the Baptist had told everyone to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus. As soon as they heard this they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Paul in Ephesus 5Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all. Paul in Ephesus 6For the next three months Paul preached in the synagogue. However, some Jews rejected his message and opposed Jesus being taught as ‘The Way’ to God. So Paul and the believers left the synagogue. For the next two years, Paul held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. Jews and Greeks throughout the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.Paul in Ephesus 7God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.

Paul in Ephesus 8Some Jews tried to copy what Paul was doing. Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were going from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!’ Paul in Ephesus 9One time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, ‘I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?’ Paul in Ephesus 10Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they had to run from the house.

Paul in Ephesus 11The story of what happened spread quickly through Ephesus and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly feared and honored. Many who became believers confessed their sinful ways. A number of them who had been practising sorcery brought their expensive occult books and burned them at a public bonfire. So the message about the Lord spread widely and powerfully. Paul in Ephesus 12Afterward Paul was compelled by the Holy Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. He sent his two assistants, Timothy and Erastus, ahead to Macedonia while he stayed a little longer in Asia.

Paul in EphesusPaul arrives in Ephesus. Those who become Christians burn their books on the occult.Acts 19:1-22